The Prison Project (by Bethany Donaghy) novel Chapter 207

Margot’s POV

Cara didn’t let go of me.

Not even once.

Her arm stayed looped through mine as she guided me toward the sofas at the far end of the gym, away from the noise, away from the weights and more importantly, away from the boys.

Well…

Mostly away.

I could still feel him.

Even from here.

Coban.

His eyes.

Watching.

Tracking.

Making sure I was exactly where he had told me to be.

I glanced back briefly, catching him mid-motion as he rolled his shoulders and stepped up beside Leo, already slipping back into the familiar version of himself.

Focused, disciplined, controlled.

But his gaze flicked back towards me again.

Just for a second.

Checking.

And when I gave him the smallest nod, I saw it. That shift. That tiny release of tension.

Before he turned away, settling that I was fine and within close enough distance.

Actually caving to let me have some space with my friend and he with his…

That alone surprised me, especially with how desperate he was to keep me attached to his hip since getting me back… but I wasn’t complaining about the new Coban either… I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy this side of him.

Cara, however, had no intention of giving me space now.

The second we sat down, she was turned to me fully, eyes wide and questioning.

“Right,” she said, clapping her hands together once. “Start talking.”

I blinked.

“…hello to you too?” I joked, but she only rolled her eyes.

“Margot,” she deadpanned. “You show up all smiley and loved up with Coban again like that entire week didn’t just happen!”

Fair point…

“When

saw you yesterday,” she continued, leaning closer, lowering her voice slightly, “It was as though all hope was lost for you and Coban… and now this?!”

I let out

small breath.

Because… yeah.

It did seem really confusing.

“I need details,” she added firmly. “All of them.”

I hesitated.

Just for a second.

Because where the hell did I even start?

“That bad, huh?” Cara muttered, reading my silence instantly.

I exhaled slowly.

“Seeing him again… it was… a lot.” I admit.

“Clearly,” she snapped. “But try me!”

I glanced back across the room again, eyeing Coban and Leo who were already mid-workout now.

Weights.

Movement.

Everything with them seemed normal.

Like everything hadn’t almost fallen apart completely only days ago…

Then I looked back at her. Back at my best friend.

And I decided to just… say it.

“When I got back to the cell,” I started quietly, “I thought it was going to be a disaster as you know…”

Cara’s brows lifted, nodding in agreement.

“But it wasn’t.” I told her truthfully, and that caught her attention.

“Okay… now I’m interested… what did he say?!” She ushered, as I swallowed lightly.

“He…” I hesitated again.

Her face twisted instantly. “Ew.”

I huffed a small laugh. “Yeah.”

“But not recently?” she pushed.

“No,” I shook my head. “He swore he hasn’t touched her since I got here.”

Cara studied me.

Really studied me.

“And you believe him?”

I thought on it again, before responding… “Yeah,” I said softly. “I can’t explain it, but I do believe him.”

She leaned back again slightly, folding her arms.

“…you’re deep in it again, aren’t you?” She teased, but I didn’t answer straight away.

Didn’t need to.

Because I already knew.

And so did she.

Coban had me infatuated even after the shittest week ever with him…

“Wow,” she muttered. “Well that update is… something!”

I smiled faintly.

“It’s something alright!” I agreed, before she snorted, causing us both to erupt in to fits of laughter.

If we didn’t laugh we’d cry, that was our way of coping sometimes, even back home when life was shit… we would joke and laugh.

Cara nudged me lightly when we had settled again…

“But seriously,” she added, smirking now, “him crying? I need to see that to believe it.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Trust me… you don’t.” But even as I said it, a small part of me was honoured to have seen him at his weakest state, to be welcomed in to his vulnerability.

Because that version of him?

The one no one else saw?

That one was mine.

A man worth saving…